Page 76 of Bleed Me

“That’s right.” She kissed the side of my face again. “Justice and Giver.”

Once they confirmed where I was headed—to Delilah—Justice had jumped on a plane. She said the bike ride was far too long. The ride back home? It was a lifesaver. The boys rode ahead, and Justice and I leisurely road on my bike, her holding me tight. She and I gave no timeframe to when we’d make it back home. We took as many scenic routes as possible and pulled over to enjoy meals in quiet places. We stopped for a night or two at cabins we found on back roads that looked like a quiet place to rest our souls.

Justice finally opened up to me about her past to inspire me to do the same. With horror that people had been so cruel to my girl, I sat in silence, not sure what to say. What I can say is, I’m thankful Art was with her during such misery. You never know of someone’s secrets. Those lifers sure the hell had them.

She explained, “It was like I had to reclaim my body, heart, and soul…”

I’d say more about what she told me had happened to her, but that’s Justice’s story to tell.

She said, “Maybe it’s the same for you, Giver. Maybe you need to start reclaiming yourself. Merging with your demons and angels so you can feel whole again.”

Justice was right. That day in the courtyard, when we saw each other for the first time, there was a pull. I think it was between one damaged soul to another.

Fucking beautiful.

On a blanket by a fire in a quiet cabin, Justice and I made love. Not just sex. Love.

Healing is so much easier when your companion is free of judgment. Justice instinctively knew how important she was to me. There was no jealousy with Delilah anymore. Only compassion. With no interruptions, she listened to me as I finally started admitting to my past, my memories. “I think Jenny and I were sold… from time to time.” I swallowed down fear and wishes that I could go back in time and try to change the horrid outcome. “We were picked up or delivered.” My stomach turned. “It was like we were rented out for a night.”

Justice would wipe her tears and hold my hand, silently promising her opinion of me wouldn’t change.

It didn’t.

And I became stronger for it.

After buying fruit from a vendor on the side of the road, we parked at a waterfall and talked for hours. Peeling an orange, I admitted, “I’m not allergic to carrots.”

“I didn’t know you thought you were.”

“A doctor Mr. Ward took me to thought I was.” I chanted inside my head, She is safe. Justice will always be a safe place to talk. “It was more of a reaction to a memory. A man… used one on me.” I exhaled, begging for more bravery. “There is a lot of shame inside me. I want revenge.” I stared at the water, wishing I had the power to drown the attackers. “No names were ever used. I couldn’t find even one abuser if I tried.”

Justice kissed my hand but didn’t interrupt me. She let me vent and speak of the atrocious acts two innocent children had been made to endure.

Once, she even agreed with me. “I would kill them all for you, James Gunn Dalton.”

Even after we got home and needed to continue with our biker way of life, we made time for more of my growth, and for hers. Every memory I gained became something I would trust Justice with. She was so worthy of every secret and kept them close to her golden heart. She blessed me with kindness. That only helped build my courage for the next step in my life.

My daughter.